The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-02
CONTRACT LABOR.
Proceeding Against a Church For
Importing a Minister.

Proceeding Against a Church For
Importing a Minister.
The new Federal law forbidding the i'm
portation of contract labor has resulted in
peculiar case at New York. Particulars as
given by tho Tribune are as follows:
Banker J. S. Kennedy has put on war
paint and resolved that the Church OF the
holy Trinity and the Rev. E. Walpole War
rem Shall not violate the law prohibiting the
importation of contract labor. He has
words "labor" and contract" he
has read the law carefully and he has de-
cided, and United States District. Attorney
Walker agrees with him, that the fashion
able congregation ut Forty second street and
Madison avenue are malefactorsL
conduct. Not content with being banker,
he is President Of the St Andrews Society
In looking after the interests of immi-
grants the case Of the Scotch gardener, NJ.
Cummings, attracted his notice. Cummings
came to this country to enter the service OF
a Kentucky gentleman, but Collector Magone
detained Cummings under the Contract Labor
law, as an agreement has been made in Great
Britain that Cummings should perform SER
vices as a skilled gardener here. A United
States Judge wreStled with the case and sent
Cummings back to Scotland. A short time
afterward Cummings came back to America
without any contract" or agreement, and
now is probably watering the grounds Of the
Kentucky gentleman who wanted him at
first.
Mr.. Kennedy's ire arose over this case and
he resolved to make the law appear as
ridiculous to others as it appeared to him.
If the poor and lowly were to be subject to
such a rigid Interpretation Of the
law it was only right that the
rich and highly should suffer. The Rev. E.
Walpole Warren, who was recently called to
the pastorate Of the Church Of the Holy
Trinity, came from England and he didn't
start for this side until an agreement had been
made with the officers of the church.
Hero was an excellent opportunity for
the crusading banker to make q test case.
Before Mr. Warren's arrival Mr.. Ken
nedy wrote to Collector Magone, calling his
attention to the facts and saying that he was
legally advised that Mr.. Warren could not
be permitted to land without violating the
tor didn't appear to share the bankers views
and MIR. Warren was not prevented from
landing.
Secretary Fairchild was then appealed to
by Mr.. Kennedy to enforce the law. Mr..
Kennedy, in his letter to the Secretary,
ended as follows:
II need hardly add to the assurance con-
SOAOSSOk 4
take this action with the kindest feelings to-
ward the Rev. Mr.. Warren and toward his
congregation, which numbers several Of my
personal friends, and solely for the
purpose of calling public attention to what l
believe to be an unjust and unreasonable
law. l see no reason, however, why law
should be enforced in the case Of poor gar
dener or mechanic and should not be enforced
in the case Of the chosen head of a rich city
congregation, to whom it equally applies" :"
The Treasury Department replied to Mr..
Kennedys letter by referring him to United
States District-Attorney Walker, who might
prosecute suit against a corporation or per-
son violating the law. Mr.. Kennedy wrote
to Mr.. Walker, and that official responded in
a letter in which he said:
Notwithstanding first impressions to the
contrary, have reached the conclusion that
the case presented is within the statute, and
that it is my duty to bring suit against the
church for 81, 900 penalty"